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The Sierra Nevada mountain range is perhaps one of the most expansive areas for trailer campers to find a campground suited to their needs. The region features the 14,505-foot Mount Whitney, Yosemite Valley and parks protecting sequoia trees. Many campgrounds are open through December if weather permits, but trailer campers should remember the temperatures in the Sierra Nevada often dip below freezing in the winter.

Largest Natural Lake

Trailer campers can find easy access to Eagle Lake, the second largest lake in California with a rich trout population. Campsites like 90-site Eagle Lake RV Resort are found tucked within pine forests but also offer unobstructed and panoramic views of Eagle Lake. Camping parks are accessible to the more than 100 miles of lake shoreline. Most area campgrounds around the lake offer modern showers and toilet facilities. Camping season generally ends Dec. 1 but could be sooner if snow sets in.

Yosemite

Trailer camping sites dot the edges of Sequoia National Park and are near such communities as Three Rivers and along the Kaweah River. Sequoia RV Ranch, for example, covers 21 acres and is home to wild turkeys and deer. Trailer campsites are on concrete pads and the park features a spring-fed pond for swimming. Campers will find whitewater rafting on Kaweah Lake. Yosemite Pines RV Park is 22 miles from the Yosemite National Park entrance and offers full hook-ups for trailer campers.

Owens Valley

On the eastern edge of the Sierra Nevada is the Owens Valley, with the centrally located town of Lone Pine on Highway 395. This provides views of Mount Whitney and is near Yosemite and Death Valley. Lone Pine is also within driving distance of Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Parks such as Sierra View RV Park outside of Lone Pine cater to RVers and trailer campers with full hook-ups, showers and flush toilets.

The Sequoias

California state highway 120 leads to Stanislaus National Forest and the west gate of Yosemite National Park. The area offers access to the Sequoias, which have been protected since 1906. More than 20 additional areas throughout the Sierra Nevada are now protected through the U.S. Wilderness Act of 1964. Protected forests include Yosemite, Kings Canon Parks and John Muir Wilderness. Trailer campers have access to the Stanislaus National Forest by camping at the Yosemite Ridge Resort near the community of Buck Meadows. The campground often acts as a base camp for trailer campers to explore Yosemite National Park and the forest. Rafting is available on the Toloumne River.

Outer Reaches

On the farthest reaches of the Sierra Nevada is the Sacramento Delta, which is fed by Sierra Nevada’s snowpacks. The delta is an inland waterway that wanders from the Sacramento area to San Francisco. On this stretch of water is Brannan Island with the Brannan Island KOA campground. The facility features 120 hook-ups and a 120-slip marina. In Susanville, near the Reno and Lassen National Park, trailer camping areas, including pet-friendly Susanville RV Park, offer modern facilities.

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About the Author

Rob Wagner is a journalist with over 35 years experience reporting and editing for newspapers and magazines. His experience ranges from legal affairs reporting to covering the Middle East. He served stints as a newspaper and magazine editor in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Wagner attended California State University, Los Angeles, and has a degree in journalism.

Photo Credits

mount whitney death valley national park image by Tinu from Fotolia.com